Treatment Options There are options when it comes to treatment of mood disorders including medical and psychological treatments. The principle effect of medications is to alter levels of neurotransmitters and other related neurochemicals.
Biological treatments and psychological treatments are also options.
Medication Treatment Antidepressants There are three main types of antidepressant medications that can be used for treatment of depressive disorders. They include tricyclic antidepressants, monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors, and selective seratonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
Tricyclic antidepressants work primarily by inhibiting the reuptake of specific neurotransmitters, allowing for desensitization of that specific neurotransmitter. This type of medication seems to have a large effect of desensitizing norepinephrine. Other neurotransmitters are also affected but not as greatly. During treatment, there are some side effects that may arise, but vary from individual to individual. These side effects include blurred vision, dry mouth, constipation, difficulties with urination, drowsiness or lethargy, weight gain, and sexual dysfunction. With careful management however, side effects can be kept to a minimal or even inhibited.
MAO Inhibitors work differently then tricyclic antidepressants. In the past, MAOIs were prescribed to individuals who were not successful with tricyclic antidepressant therapy due to resistance. Today, newer MAOIs are occasionally used as a first time intervention, although they may not be as effective. They act by stopping or inhibiting the activity of monomine oxidase (found in neurons), preventing the breakdown of monomine neurotransmitters, and increasing their availability (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monomine_Oxidase)
Seratonin Reuptake Inhibitors work by relieving symptoms of depression by blocking the reabsorption of seratonin by certain nerve cells in the brain. This method leaves more seratonin in the brain. Increased seratonin in the brain lends itself to enhancement of neurotransmission (sending of nerve impulses), thus improving the mood. SSRIs are 'selective' because they only seem to affect seratonin, and not the other neurotransmitters (http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/ssris/MH00066)
Lithium Lithium has been around for years and is often used to treat depression and acts as a mood stabilizer in the treatment of bipolar disorders. Lithium is a common salt that is widely available in our natural environment, included in our drinking water. It can be used in combination with other antidepressants for maximum effectiveness. Individuals on lithium therapy must have their blood tested periodoically. As with the other medications, there are some possible side effects which include increase in urination, shaking, dulling of one's thinking, nausea, sedation, and kidney/ thyroid diseases. (http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/lithium-medication/MY00639)
Biological Treatment Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) Electroconvulsive therapy (previously known as 'electroshock') is a psychiatric treatment where seizures are induced electrically in anesthetized patients for a therapeutic effect. It is commonly indicated in individuals who have been diagnosed with major depression and has not responded to other forms of treatment. It is also an intervention that can be used for other disorders such as bipolar disorder.
With ECT treatment, individuals lose consciousness and has seizure-like convulsions for approximately 15 seconds. This reverses the toxic effects of depression on the brain,and increases new synapse formation as well as lends itself to the new formation of new cells.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electroconvulsive_therapy#Mechanism_of_action)
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Transcranial magnetic stimulation is a type of biological therapy that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain and is mostly used for treatment of depression. This method is one of the newer brain stimulation methods that are used when the individual is unresponsive to other therapy. A large electromagnetic coil is placed close to the forehead and creates a painless electric current that stimulates the nerve cells to the area of the brain that deals with mood regulation (http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/transcranial-magnetic-stimulation/MY00185)
Phototherapy for Seasonal Affective Disorder Phototherapy or light therapy is another biological treatment for mood disorders that consists of sitting or working close to an apparatus called a light therapy box. This light therapy box emits a light that is similar to natural outdoor light. This therapy causes biochemical changes in the brain that can help to reduce or eliminate symptoms of seasonal affective disorder. Improvements have been seen with this type of therapy within one week of the beginning of treatment. There are fewer side effects with phototherapy and requires approximately 15-30 minutes per session (daily). (http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/light-therapy/MY00195)
Psychological Treatment Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Cognitive behavioral therapy is a type of psychotherapy that is based on an individual's own distorted thoughts/ beliefs that lead to negative moods or unhealthy behavior. It helps the individual realize that the negative moods and behaviors that they portray are self-accountable and are not the responsibility of other people, or events and situations. CBT helps people to realize that they have inaccurate thoughts and beliefs which in turn help them to react in a more positive and healthy manner to the situation. CBT can treat a number of different conditions including depression, bipolar disorders, anxiety disorders, phobias and many more conditions.
Interpersonal Psychotherapy Interpersonal psychotherapy is a short term form of psychological treatment that was originally used to treat individuals who suffered from depression. In the past two decades, this type of therapy has been studied in many research protocols. It has been shown effective in treating individuals with depression, and also has been adjusted to treat other disorders such as bulimia and substance abuse. For the most part, it has been used as an acute method of therapy (approximately 16 weeks), but can also be modified for maintenance therapy intervals for individuals with recurrent depression (http://www.apa.org/divisions/div12/rev_est/ipt_depr.html).
Treatment Options
There are options when it comes to treatment of mood disorders including medical and psychological treatments. The principle effect of medications is to alter levels of neurotransmitters and other related neurochemicals.
Medication Treatment
Antidepressants
There are three main types of antidepressant medications that can be used for treatment of depressive disorders. They include tricyclic antidepressants, monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors, and selective seratonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
Tricyclic antidepressants work primarily by inhibiting the reuptake of specific neurotransmitters, allowing for desensitization of that specific neurotransmitter. This type of medication seems to have a large effect of desensitizing norepinephrine. Other neurotransmitters are also affected but not as greatly. During treatment, there are some side effects that may arise, but vary from individual to individual. These side effects include blurred vision, dry mouth, constipation, difficulties with urination, drowsiness or lethargy, weight gain, and sexual dysfunction. With careful management however, side effects can be kept to a minimal or even inhibited.
MAO Inhibitors work differently then tricyclic antidepressants. In the past, MAOIs were prescribed to individuals who were not successful with tricyclic antidepressant therapy due to resistance. Today, newer MAOIs are occasionally used as a first time intervention, although they may not be as effective. They act by stopping or inhibiting the activity of monomine oxidase (found in neurons), preventing the breakdown of monomine neurotransmitters, and increasing their availability (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monomine_Oxidase)
Seratonin Reuptake Inhibitors work by relieving symptoms of depression by blocking the reabsorption of seratonin by certain nerve cells in the brain. This method leaves more seratonin in the brain. Increased seratonin in the brain lends itself to enhancement of neurotransmission (sending of nerve impulses), thus improving the mood. SSRIs are 'selective' because they only seem to affect seratonin, and not the other neurotransmitters (http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/ssris/MH00066)
Lithium
Lithium has been around for years and is often used to treat depression and acts as a mood stabilizer in the treatment of bipolar disorders. Lithium is a common salt that is widely available in our natural environment, included in our drinking water. It can be used in combination with other antidepressants for maximum effectiveness. Individuals on lithium therapy must have their blood tested periodoically. As with the other medications, there are some possible side effects which include increase in urination, shaking, dulling of one's thinking, nausea, sedation, and kidney/ thyroid diseases.
(http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/lithium-medication/MY00639)
Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)
Electroconvulsive therapy (previously known as 'electroshock') is a psychiatric treatment where seizures are induced electrically in anesthetized patients for a therapeutic effect. It is commonly indicated in individuals who have been diagnosed with major depression and has not responded to other forms of treatment. It is also an intervention that can be used for other disorders such as bipolar disorder.
With ECT treatment, individuals lose consciousness and has seizure-like convulsions for approximately 15 seconds. This reverses the toxic effects of depression on the brain,and increases new synapse formation as well as lends itself to the new formation of new cells.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electroconvulsive_therapy#Mechanism_of_action)
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
Transcranial magnetic stimulation is a type of biological therapy that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain and is mostly used for treatment of depression. This method is one of the newer brain stimulation methods that are used when the individual is unresponsive to other therapy. A large electromagnetic coil is placed close to the forehead and creates a painless electric current that stimulates the nerve cells to the area of the brain that deals with mood regulation (http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/transcranial-magnetic-stimulation/MY00185)
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BA5GUsZ3q7s)
Phototherapy for Seasonal Affective Disorder
Phototherapy or light therapy is another biological treatment for mood disorders that consists of sitting or working close to an apparatus called a light therapy box. This light therapy box emits a light that is similar to natural outdoor light. This therapy causes biochemical changes in the brain that can help to reduce or eliminate symptoms of seasonal affective disorder. Improvements have been seen with this type of therapy within one week of the beginning of treatment. There are fewer side effects with phototherapy and requires approximately 15-30 minutes per session (daily). (http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/light-therapy/MY00195)
Psychological Treatment
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy is a type of psychotherapy that is based on an individual's own distorted thoughts/ beliefs that lead to negative moods or unhealthy behavior. It helps the individual realize that the negative moods and behaviors that they portray are self-accountable and are not the responsibility of other people, or events and situations. CBT helps people to realize that they have inaccurate thoughts and beliefs which in turn help them to react in a more positive and healthy manner to the situation. CBT can treat a number of different conditions including depression, bipolar disorders, anxiety disorders, phobias and many more conditions.
Interpersonal Psychotherapy
Interpersonal psychotherapy is a short term form of psychological treatment that was originally used to treat individuals who suffered from depression. In the past two decades, this type of therapy has been studied in many research protocols. It has been shown effective in treating individuals with depression, and also has been adjusted to treat other disorders such as bulimia and substance abuse. For the most part, it has been used as an acute method of therapy (approximately 16 weeks), but can also be modified for maintenance therapy intervals for individuals with recurrent depression (http://www.apa.org/divisions/div12/rev_est/ipt_depr.html).